North Korea Doubles Down on China Ties

SEOUL—The looming closure of an industrial park in North Korea is the latest demonstration of the regime's willingness to put politics ahead of much-needed economic overhauls and increase its dependency on China.

Seven South Koreans remain at the jointly operated Kaesong Industrial Complex, just north of the inter-Korean border, to resolve a minor dispute over wages but are expected to return home in the next few days. That would...